'A good servant but a bad master' nghĩa là một phương tiện chứ không phải là mục đích; vật để dùng chứ không phải để thờ (You must be careful to use it wisely and under control so that it will not hurt you).

Ví dụ

Money is a good servant but a bad master and people are encouraged never to allow money take the place of God in their lives. It is God that gives power to make wealth and teaches the hands to profit hence we must constantly call to him for his wisdom and power to excel in our finances.

City grandee Charlotte Black has penned a thoughtful piece on reconnecting stakeholders with capitalism. It’s a timely intervention (see today’s leader article) and begins with the John Eatwell quote that “the market is a good servant but a bad master”. Black’s diagnosis about the disconnect between investors, institutions and governance is spot on – and her proposed remedies deserve serious consideration.

Technology can be a good servant, but a bad master. The age of instant everything is upon us, as the internet gives us unprecedented connectivity and freedom of information. Our world is one of instant messaging and instant response, instant gratification and instant solace. No educator can ignore the hold of social media on the younger generation. But such power and promise comes with its own perils. Social media has totally altered the way we communicate. It can bring people together, but also divide a community and magnify its differences. It is a domain where users are not bound by traditional rules, and where it is difficult if not impossible to distinguish reality from myth.

The pair apparently made no effort to be discreet and instead 'went at it' in front of horrified (khiếp sợ, kinh tởm, khó chịu, choáng váng, gây sốc) passers-by in the main road.

Charlotte Harrison, who lives nearby and filmed the action, said she was simply trying to eat her dinner but was put off her food. The 20-year-old thinks the couple may have missed their bus and had to get another one. She was shocked and was disgusted by what she witnessed from her home.

...Nottinghamshire Police have said they received a report of two people engaging in sexual activity at a bus stop in Victoria Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, at around 8pm on Tuesday. "Arrangements are due to be made for the two people to attend a police station for a voluntary interview on suspicion of outraging public decency."

A hotel valet (người hầu phòng) had a lucky (may mắn) escape (hành động trốn thoát) — but the luxury sports car he was trying to park did not.

Emergency workers cut the driver out from the Porsche as a crowd (đám đông) watched.

Matthew Talbot, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. the valet was “embarrassed and a little bit shocked” but was OK.

The larger vehicle was propped up and its wheels were anchored while the vehicles were separated. The black Porsche, its hood and front bumper (cái hãm xung) crunched and dented, was then backed onto a tow truck.